There are too many posts on this thread around Jubilee. Hopefully this can get pinned or used by the mods in some fashion to stick all discussion purposes here:

Below is an expanded snapshot of when to expect peak crowds, key religious events, and a few tips for navigating Rome during the Holy Year. As schedules may evolve, always verify dates via the Vatican’s official channels. Safe travels and buoni pellegrinaggi (happy pilgrimages)!

January: Opening of the Holy Doors

  • Key Events:
    • Official Opening Ceremonies for the Jubilee (early January).
    • Special Papal Mass inaugurating the year.
  • Crowds: Extremely high, especially at St. Peter’s Basilica during the Holy Door openings.
  • Tips:
    • Book flights and accommodations months in advance.
    • Arrive at least two hours early for any papal event.
    • Expect extra security and road closures around the Vatican.
  • Weather: Cool (40–55°F/4–13°C), so dress in layers.

February: Post-Opening Lull

  • Key Events:
    • Minimal major feasts; parish-level gatherings continue.
    • Occasional Vatican-sponsored prayer services.
  • Crowds: Moderately low compared to January, though lingering pilgrims still visit.
  • Tips:
    • Good month for quieter visits to major basilicas and museums.
    • Consider visiting lesser-known churches and catacombs—lines are shorter.
    • Hotel prices may dip slightly; check for off-season deals.
  • Weather: Still chilly, with occasional rain; carry a compact umbrella.

March: Lenten Devotions & Pilgrimages

  • Key Events:
    • Ash Wednesday (early March), marking the start of Lent.
    • Special penitential services in the four major basilicas.
  • Crowds: Steady rise as Holy Week approaches; many group pilgrimages begin.
  • Tips:
    • If you want to attend a Lenten service, arrive well before start time—seats fill up quickly.
    • Book museum tickets (like the Vatican Museums) online to avoid long queues.
    • Evenings can still get cold, so pack a warm jacket.
  • Weather: Mild days, cooler nights. Ideal for long walks through Rome.

April: Holy Week & Easter Celebrations

  • Key Events:
    • Palm Sunday processions, Holy Thursday, Good Friday services, and Easter Sunday Mass.
    • Easter Vigil at St. Peter’s (often the highlight of the entire year).
  • Crowds: Among the highest of the Jubilee—streets and basilicas will be packed.
  • Tips:
    • Secure (free) tickets for papal events well in advance through official Vatican channels.
    • Plan for extended wait times at security checks.
    • Public transport gets crowded; consider walking between nearby sites to save time.
  • Weather: Pleasant spring temperatures, but pack a light rain jacket.

May: Marian Celebrations

  • Key Events:
    • Rosary rallies, Marian processions, and various devotions to the Virgin Mary.
    • Vatican often organizes special prayer vigils for peace.
  • Crowds: High, particularly on weekends and feast days (e.g., Our Lady of Fatima, May 13).
  • Tips:
    • If your schedule is flexible, visit on weekdays for smaller crowds.
    • Explore lesser-known Marian sites like Santa Maria in Trastevere or Santa Maria Sopra Minerva.
    • Book guided tours in advance—May is popular with school and parish groups.
  • Weather: Warm and sunny; perfect for outdoor strolling.

June: Feast of Saints Peter & Paul

  • Key Events:
    • Feast Day on June 29, honoring Rome’s patron saints.
    • Papal Mass or liturgical ceremony at St. Peter’s Basilica.
  • Crowds: Very high around the Vatican, plus many pilgrims plan trips to coincide with this feast.
  • Tips:
    • Expect more intense security around June 29—arrive extra early for big events.
    • June is also a popular wedding month, so hotels can be booked solid.
    • Stay hydrated and wear sunscreen; summer heat is starting to kick in.
  • Weather: Warm (70–85°F/21–29°C); pack light clothes and comfortable shoes.

  • This is amazing, I hope mods pin this and remove the daily 'hOw ArE tHe CrOwDs' posts.

    Thanks for taking the time!

    parent

  • Fantastic, thank you. I'll pin this.

    parent

  • July: Summer Tourism Peaks

    • Key Events:
      • Ongoing Jubilee activities; special Masses and confessions for visiting pilgrims.
      • Rome Opera venues sometimes host open-air performances.
    • Crowds: Exceptionally high due to both Jubilee pilgrims and general summer tourists.
    • Tips:
      • Book anything (museums, Vatican tours) weeks in advance.
      • Early morning or late evening can be less crowded for sightseeing.
      • Watch out for pickpockets in congested areas like Termini Station and the Colosseum.
    • Weather: Hot and sunny, frequently in the 80–90°F range (27–32°C).

    August: Ferragosto & Holiday Vibes

    • Key Events:
      • Ferragosto (Aug 15, Feast of the Assumption), a major Italian holiday.
      • Some local festivities and possible papal Angelus prayers specifically for the holy day.
    • Crowds: Tourists still abound, but many Romans leave on vacation—some shops/restaurants close.
    • Tips:
      • Double-check openings for restaurants and smaller museums; many take a summer break.
      • The Vatican Museums remain busy, so book tickets beforehand.
      • Stay hydrated—Rome can be scorching in August.
    • Weather: Very hot; plan indoor activities during midday heat.
    parent

    September: Return of Pilgrim Groups

    • Key Events:
      • Diocesan pilgrimages often resume now that school is back in session.
      • Papal general audiences return in full swing after the August slowdown.
    • Crowds: Moderate to high, especially with group tours.
    • Tips:
      • Great time to explore iconic sites (Pantheon, Trevi Fountain) with fewer crowds than in peak summer.
      • Evenings can be lovely—consider walking tours to enjoy cooler temperatures.
      • Papal audiences require advance ticketing; check the Prefecture of the Papal Household website.
    • Weather: Still warm and generally pleasant, with occasional late-summer storms.

    October: Harvest Season & Autumn Charm

    • Key Events:
      • Harvest festivals on Rome’s outskirts; potential special papal gatherings for the Jubilee.
      • October is a favored month for pilgrimages due to milder weather.
    • Crowds: Steady, but not as overwhelming as Easter or summer.
    • Tips:
      • Ideal time for day trips to surrounding hill towns (e.g., Castel Gandolfo).
      • Expect lines for papal audiences—arrive early for the best seats.
      • Vatican Museums may still have queues, so plan ahead.
    • Weather: Cooler mornings/evenings; pleasant daytime temperatures.
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    November: Solemnities & Feasts

    • Key Events:
      • All Saints’ Day (Nov 1), All Souls’ Day (Nov 2), and Christ the King Sunday (late November).
      • More reflective tone as the liturgical year nears its end.
    • Crowds: Moderate, with spikes around feast days.
    • Tips:
      • Great month for a quieter spiritual experience, as tourist numbers dip (apart from feast days).
      • Check out the Vatican Necropolis (Scavi) tour if you want a unique historical/spiritual excursion.
      • Some days can be rainy; keep an umbrella and layer up.
    • Weather: Cooler, possibly rainy. Ideal for museum visits.

    December: Closing Ceremonies & Christmas

    • Key Events:
      • Jubilee Closing (often around Dec 8, Feast of the Immaculate Conception).
      • Christmas Eve Mass and Christmas Day celebrations at St. Peter’s.
      • New Year’s Eve festivities in central Rome.
    • Crowds: Extremely high during closing ceremonies, Christmas, and New Year’s events.
    • Tips:
      • If attending Midnight Mass, arrive many hours early (tickets are free but limited).
      • Book everything—accommodations, tours, restaurants—well ahead of time.
      • Festive lights and holiday markets can be enchanting but draw big crowds.
    • Weather: Chilly, with possible rain. Dress warmly and enjoy the holiday spirit.
    parent root

    Thanks chat gpt .

    parent root

  • Outside of the normal busier times of year, some of the Jubilee stuff seems like a hunch/hysteria.

    All of April the “streets and basilicas will be packed”? Come on, the streets will be packed? I’ve never seen “the streets packed” let alone basilicas on a random weekday outside of Saint Peter’s.

    Yeah, Easter is busy! But the month of April? Seems a bit much.

    parent

    Thanks. That gave me some relief. I am going to be there 11-15 April, and was worried after reading OP's comment.

    parent root

    I just left Roma and our colosseum tour guide said this April was not any busier than an other April.

    parent root

    Ding ding ding. People dont understand the Jubilee. Most religious pilgrims aren’t there to gallivant around being tourists

    parent root

  • OK, I'm doomed. My family's first time ever visiting Rome without knowing about Jubilee year will hit in April. Nice.

    parent

    Lol how’d it go

    parent root

    Not the original commenter, but we just left Rome on the 16, we were told it wasn’t any busier than a usual April.

    parent root

    Same, was in Italy till the 16th, last few days were in Rome. Didn't find it too busy. Had prepaid tickets for Vatican museum and coliseum arena, line ups were reasonable.

    parent root

    Thanks for the input !

    parent root

    Just came from Rome. It was not bad at all! Except for Vatican City we used 3rd party guide for, we managed to enter most of landmarks in Rome including Colosseum within 30 minutes. It's definitely nothing comparable to waiting in lines in Disneyland in summer.

    parent root

  • Great summary, thanks. It would be even better with calendar dates.

    parent

  • What’s the outlook for early June?

    parent

    I’d be interested to know this as well - I’ll be in Rome that first week in June

    parent root

  • Thank you for this! We are going to Rome this year specifically because my husband wants to walk through the Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica. I just confirmed with one of the Vatican tours that we are looking at that their tour does not go through the Holy Door since they use a separate entrance into the Basilica. If our tour ends at 11:30am or so, how much time should we plan in between to make our reservation for the Holy Door. We have registered as pilgrims on the Vatican's official Jubilee website, as I understand there is a separate line for registered pilgrims, but I am not sure how much time to allot between the two. If anyone has done a tour and then the Holy Door, I'd appreciate your insight!

    parent

    Hey I been there. Just go on the time that you booked. If you booked the slot, you will walk in at that time. But the walk into the door may take 30min.

    parent root
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  • This is so helpful! Does anyone have any thoughts or advice about visiting in early/mid November? I keep reading mixed reports that this month will be full of events or if it will be quieter compared to October. Thanks!

    parent

  • I will be arriving in Rome on April 21, the day after Easter. Will things die down quickly after Easter or should I still expect crazy crowds?

    parent

    Roma è sempre molto affollata soprattutto durante le festività (Natale, Pasqua, etc.), però quando verrai troverai sicuramente meno folla rispetto a quella registrata nell'Anno Giubilare.

    parent root

  • Thank you so much for listing all of these details out! I'm traveling and I have family/friends traveling to Rome this year, so this is incredibly helpful

    parent

  • This is so awesome, thank you!

    parent

  • Wow thank you so much!

    parent

  • Anyone know when the Holy Doors openings will be? Is it just on Dec 24 so it already happened? Will be visiting St Peter’s in a few weeks. Planning on getting there at 630 AM but wanting to avoid crowds or some random closure that I don’t know about.

    parent

  • Thanks for the advice

    parent

  • What is the source of these data? I’m cross referencing this list with calendar on the jubilee website and it doesn’t seem to match.

    parent